Adverse weather dents Rajshahi mango yield

RAJSHAHI, May 27: Mango farmers across Rajshahi region have registered poor yield thanks to unfavourable weather this season, which is suggestive of the fruit becoming evidently dearer.
Freshly harvested 'Gopalbhog' variety mangoes have started appearing in the markets of Rajshahi following the Guti variety.
Market sources said the price of mango has doubled compared to last year due to lower yields.
Traders said that last year, Gopalbhog mangoes were initially sold at Tk1,500 to Tk2,000 per maund, but this time the price is double.
On the first day (May 25) of arrival, Gopalbhog variety mangoes hit Tk2,500 to Tk3,000 per maund in the markers.
According to the Mango Calendar, the mango season has started in Rajshahi from May 15. But the season for Gopalbhog started from May 25.
However, garden owners cannot follow the 'Mango Calendar' at the same time in Rajshahi as mangoes are not getting equally mature on the trees. As a result, there are not many mango varieties available in the market, they added.
Earlier on May 12, the 'Mango Calendar' was released at a meeting organised by the Rajshahi district administration determining the time for mango collection, transportation, marketing and market monitoring.
As per the calendar, harvesting of the Guti variety mangoes is to start on May 15 and that of Gopalbhog, Laxmanbhog, Lakhna and Ranipchand varieties on May 25 while plucking of Himsagar and Khirsapat variety mangoes is to start on May 30, Lengra and Banana varieties on June 10 and Amrapali and Fazli varieties on June 15.
Collecting of Ashwina variety mangoes will start on July 10, Gaurmati on July 15 and Ilamati variety mangoes on August 20. Besides, Katimon and Barium-11 species of mangoes can be collected throughout the year.
On Monday noon, visiting Baneswar, the largest mango market of the country's 'mango capital' Rajshahi, this correspondent found that Gopalbhog mangoes were being sold for Tk2,400 to Tk2,800 per maund while the price was Tk1,400 to Tk1,800 last year.
Md Bishu, a farmer who brought mangoes to Baneswar market, said that on the first day (Saturday) of appearing in markets, Gopalbhog was sold at the price of Tk2,700 per maund.
"The price was same on Monday. Mango yield is less this time but the price is good," he added.
Market vendor Abdul Matin said, "Although the mango yield is low, there will be no loss as the price is good. But there are still not enough mangoes coming in the market. After another 10 to 15 days the supply of mangoes will increase."
Shahriar Hossain, an online mango trader, said, "I bought 2700 Tk per maund Gopalbhog mangoes. The price is relatively high. However, online buyers have taken advance payment at a higher rate as per the market. So there is no risk of loss.
Nurul Islam Pannu came to Baneshwar market from Gazipur in Dhaka to buy Gopalbhog mangoes. He said that, I came to this market hoping to get good mangoes to give to my relatives and to eat myself. But this time the price is much higher.
Jahangir Alam, the lessee of Baneshwar Mango market, said that in the previous years, mango market were set up on the road as there was no space at this time. But this time nothing is being noticed yet. Now 100 to 150 maunds of mangoes are being sold daily.
Umme Salma, deputy director (acting) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rajshahi, said this time the mangoes are a little less because buds are less.
Since there have been no major storms or hailstorms this time, that is a good thing.
She also said that mango plantations covered only 19,602 hectares of land in Rajshahi district this year, which is 24 hectares more than that of the last year.
If the target is achieved, a total of 2,60,165 tonnes of mangoes will be produced in the district this year.